DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0060
28 HISTORY OF
with it, as cursorily stated by venerable Bede*, appear to be the only notice
taken of it in the course of three centuries.
ALFRIC—939.
On the death of Alfnod, Alfric succeeded to the government of this monastery,
where he remained but for a short time; not more than three or four years. The
West Saxons having been long harassed with wars, the church had experienced its
full proportion of suffering, and was no longer in a state of regular government.
In consequence, therefore, of its forlorn situation, as it is stated by Mathew of
Westminster, Reymund, Archbishop of Canterbury, called a council, in which a
division of bishoprics was made, and one fixed at Crediton, now Hyrton, in
Devonshire; to which Alfric was afterwards appointed. It is supposed, for the fact
is involved in more than common confusion, that he enjoyed his prelacy about
ten years, and died in the year 952f.
The account of the priors and abbots of the monastery to this period, is given
rather to gratify curiosity, than on the presumption of affording authentic inform-
ation. Flete gives a mere list of their names, and acknowledges that to be the
utmost extent of his acquisitions. Sporley enters into a remarkable state of par-
ticulars respecting them. This has been already observed, as well as the ignorance
of those authorities from whence he obtained his very doubtful information. It
is apparent, however, that, they are both mistaken in the three persons whom they
represent as having been advanced from their situations in the Church of West-
minster to bishoprics—Ordbright to Selsey, Oswy to Wells, and Alfric to Cre-
diton ; there being no person of those names in two of the sees, till two hundred
years after the time which they assign for their respective elevations; and the third
* Bede's Eccl. Hist.
+ Godwin de Prcesul.—Mat. West. p. 189, n. 39.
with it, as cursorily stated by venerable Bede*, appear to be the only notice
taken of it in the course of three centuries.
ALFRIC—939.
On the death of Alfnod, Alfric succeeded to the government of this monastery,
where he remained but for a short time; not more than three or four years. The
West Saxons having been long harassed with wars, the church had experienced its
full proportion of suffering, and was no longer in a state of regular government.
In consequence, therefore, of its forlorn situation, as it is stated by Mathew of
Westminster, Reymund, Archbishop of Canterbury, called a council, in which a
division of bishoprics was made, and one fixed at Crediton, now Hyrton, in
Devonshire; to which Alfric was afterwards appointed. It is supposed, for the fact
is involved in more than common confusion, that he enjoyed his prelacy about
ten years, and died in the year 952f.
The account of the priors and abbots of the monastery to this period, is given
rather to gratify curiosity, than on the presumption of affording authentic inform-
ation. Flete gives a mere list of their names, and acknowledges that to be the
utmost extent of his acquisitions. Sporley enters into a remarkable state of par-
ticulars respecting them. This has been already observed, as well as the ignorance
of those authorities from whence he obtained his very doubtful information. It
is apparent, however, that, they are both mistaken in the three persons whom they
represent as having been advanced from their situations in the Church of West-
minster to bishoprics—Ordbright to Selsey, Oswy to Wells, and Alfric to Cre-
diton ; there being no person of those names in two of the sees, till two hundred
years after the time which they assign for their respective elevations; and the third
* Bede's Eccl. Hist.
+ Godwin de Prcesul.—Mat. West. p. 189, n. 39.